What Type of Cleaning System Do You Use

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R

russwalters

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 15, 2012
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1
United States
I'm really curious, what is you cleaning regiment like on some of these monster tanks people build on this site? How on earth do you get to the bottom to vacuum these massive tanks? I am working on a 265 and and already dreading the fact that I will most likely have to remove my canopy to be able to get to the bottom of the tank with a vacuum (that's even standing on a chair).

I'd love to hear what everyone is doing to keep their substrate clean and poop free!
 
Well, the easy answer is that most of them probably use powerheads angled in specific directions to keep the waste and food off the bottom of the tank. It stays in the water column until it is filtered out. They still need to stir the substrate now and again, but that would be far less often than weekly vacuumings. In fact I did this in my 125g african cichlid tank, and it worked like a charm.
 
sand and lots of flow and rays that stir up the sand really well.
 
wrslrcichlid said:
Well, the easy answer is that most of them probably use powerheads angled in specific directions to keep the waste and food off the bottom of the tank. It stays in the water column until it is filtered out. They still need to stir the substrate now and again, but that would be far less often than weekly vacuumings. In fact I did this in my 125g african cichlid tank, and it worked like a charm.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I did to keep waste from settling on my sand, and I have a sifting claw with a 36" arm that I use to stir up the sand every couple of weeks.
 
On my large tank I have added what movement I can with powerheads as mentioned above. I also run a 4' spray bar to add to that water movement. I should probably add even more but for now they seem to be doing an ok job

I stick to at least once a week water changes (twice when I have the time). While doing my changes I gravel vac using a python, stirring up what I can and getting it all cleaned out. I am not going to lie, this takes a while (100"x40" footprint). But by the time I am done vacuuming all of the gravel, I have taken out about 40 to 50% of the water and its time to refill.

All in all it takes me about an hour and a half to: water change, gravel vac, adjust deco, wipe down the glass and get everything put away when I'm done. Not too bad for something you only have to do once a week.

With no deco I'm sure it would be easier to clean but that is not the look I want for the tank.

I have also read that sand substrate can make maintenance a little easier but I'm a fan of gravel myself.
 
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